Stringed musical instrument



May 20, 1952 .M. MAccAFERRI STRINGED MUSICALQINSTRUMENT 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 15, 1950 INVENTCR.

M gi k ATTORNEYQ May 20, 1952 M. MACCAFERRI 2,597,154

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 15, 1950 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 INVENTOR'.

ATTORNEYX Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '5 Claims. 1

My invention relates to certain improvements in stringed musical instruments; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily'understood and recognized by those skilled in the arts involved in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the acompanying drawings illustrating what I-at present consider to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical and functional expressions of "the invention and of the various features thereof, from among other forms, expressions, embodiments, arrangements, modifications, designs, constructions and combinations, of which the invention'is capable Within the broadspirit and scope thereof, as defined by the claims hereinafter appended.

The invention is particularly directed to those general classes or types of stringed musical instruments which are characterized by a hollow body or bell having a sounding board formed with a sound opening thereinsecured over and closing the upper side of the body, with a fingerboard mounting neck extending "from one end of the hollow body and terminating at its outer end in a head for mounting thereinthe "string adjusting and tuning keys. Such types of instruments are further characterized by the provision of spaced strings secured to the head mounted tuning keys and being extended therefrom inwardly :along and over the finger board on'the neck, to and across the sounding board and ther'sound Topening therein, to a bridge member secured vto the sounding board and to which .the ends of the strings are attached.

These types of stringed musical instruments have heretofore been practically universally constructed of wood components suitably formed, shaped and glued together to make up a composite structure. For example, the body of such a wood instrument is usually built up from a bottom piece, two (2) side wall forming .pieces each bent laterally at its opposite ends to join similarly bent opposite ends of the oppo'site'side piece, to thus form the opposite end walls of the body, and a wood top wall or sounding board having a sound opening cut therethrough. 'The neck and head piece of such a wood instrument are formed as a separate component which is then suitably secured and attached at its .inner end to the adjacent endof a composite twood body. Such attachment usually necessitates some form of added internal structure, such as an attachment block or the like, :by which the inner end of the neck is secured to the body. Similarly, in the joining of theside i-pi'eces to the bottom, separate flexible 'lor Pbehddble wdod joining strips are usually employed. And .to stiffen and strengthen the sounding board, wood strips :ares'ecured transversely (due to the grain of the wood) across the under side of the board.

The manufacture of these composite wood ins'truments is relatively expensive in that such manufacture calls for the use of skilled wood working and wood joining craftsmen. The completed instruments are relatively fragile and the individual instruments so manufactured may frequently have different resonance characteristics and tone qualities due to variations in the physical character of the separate wood components, as well as in the fabrication of the components and in the joining and gluing thereof to form the completed instrument.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a stringed musical instrument of such types which is formed entirely of a suitable plastic or plastics having requisite properties and characteristics to form a body or bell, including the sounding board, which will have and retain in use the necesary resonant quality as well as a'desired volume and fidelity of tone to compare favorably with the "bestof the wood instruments.

In carrying .out such object the invention is characterized and featured by the formation of the body, bottom, side and end walls and of the fingerboard mounting neck and stringed tuning key mounting head, as an integral, one-piece molded plastic component, with a plastic finger board and a plastic cover member for mounting, respectively, on the neck and head of such onepiece component.

.Another feature resides in the formation of the sounding board whichprovides the top wall of the one-piece plastic body, of plastic :and to provide in such plastic sounding board, a plastic structure integral therewith by which a sound opening is formed "giving improved resonance, volume vandtone qualities to'the instrument.

A further ifeature resides in the design and construction of the plastic sounding board by which such board :is substantially strengthened againstzdistortion'or'twisting due to the torsional forces which .may be "imposed thereon by tension of the strings secured in tautened condition stretched betweenthe outer end of the neck and a :bridge attached :to the sounding board or to thebody,.-at the opposite side of the sound opening; :and further to effect such strengthening by a structure which will not reduce the inherent resonance :.of the plastic body or interfere with tumor volume. I 7

With :the foregoing objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others which will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and explanation, my invention consists in certain novel features in design, construction, materials and arrangements of parts and components and in the combination thereof, all as will be more fully and particularly hereinafter referred to and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts and elements throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a stringed instrument of the ukulele type constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the instrument of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing only the upper portion of the body of the instrument.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view in side elevation showing the mounting and arrangement of the separate string divider and its relationship to the first fret of the finger board.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the instrument of Fig. 1, showing particularly the integral, one piece molded body, neck and finger board component, with the other components of the instrument shown separated therefrom but in general relationship of assembly therewith.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken as on the line 66 of Fig. 1, through the neck and finger board adjacent the outer end thereof.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken as on the line I--! of Fig. 1, through the neck and finger board adjacent the inner end thereof.

I have selected and illustrated and described herein, purely by way of example and not in all respects by way of limitation, a stringed musical instrument of the ukulele type formed of a moldable thermoplastic material and embodying the various features of my invention. It is to be understood, however, that the adaptations and embodiments of my invention are not limited or restricted to stringed musical instruments of the ukulele type of the illustrated example, as the invention and the various features thereof are capable of embodiment in various other types and species of stringed musical instruments, such for example, as various species of guitars, violins and such like instruments of various sizes and ranges, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in this art.

I have discovered that the body or bell of stringed musical instruments, and particularly those of the types in which the strings thereof are strummed or vibrated by the fingers or with a pick, bow or other instrument, may be formed with completely satisfactory resonance, vibration and tone results, from a thermoplastic moldable material of the styrene or styrol resin class, such for example as polystyrene. Polystyrene may be prepared in all the transparent and opaque colors and such plastic material is readily identified from other types or classes of plastics by the distinct metallic sound or ring produced when struck or dropped. The material has high alcohol and water resistance, excellent resistance to many acids and alkalis, with crystal clarity and high light transmission. It has no offensive odor and no taste and is non-burning and free from brittleness at low temperatures. The material has low specific gravity when molded, and lends itself with great efficiency to injection molding.

Tensile strength, 9," bar, p. s. i 0000-6500 Elongation, per cent 1.5-2.1 Modulus in tension p. s. i 4.3-4.7 Impact strength:

Izod notched, ,4 bar, ft. lbs/in. of d 0 .I

notch Izod unnotched, bar, ft. lbs./in.

of width -6 Flexural strength, 1; bar, p. s. i 1200015000 Heat distortion, ;4;" bar, F -179 Flammability, in./min 1 Rockwell hardness M67S Specific gravity 1.00-1.07 Dielectric constant:

60 cycles 2.4; )2.; i

10 cycles 2.4o2.oo lower factor:

60 cycles 00001-00003 10 cycles 00001-00004 Holding conditions:

A. Temperature, F uEZo-(iOO 11. Pressure at above temperatures- Med. to Low In the example instrument of the ukulele type formed in accordance with my invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, all of the components of the instrument are formed of molded polystyrene, preferably having the above characteristics, with the exception of the strings which in this instance may be considered to be formed of nylon, and of the metal components of the string tuning keys. It is pointed out, however, if desired or round expedient such ke components may themselves be formed of this or other suitable plastic material.

Referring now to the drawings, the example instrument in the form of a ukulele, is comprised of a hollow body or bell B having a sounding board S over and closing the upper side thereof, with a sound opening E therein. A neck N extends from one end of the body and terminates at its outer end in a tuning key mounting head H. A fretted finger board F is mounted on and over the neck N and extends between the inner end of head H and the adjacent end of body B and sound board S. A cover plate C is, in this instance, mounted on and covers the upper side of head H. A bridge D is secured in transversely disposed position on the outer side of sounding board S between the outer end of body B and the sound opening E. In the ukulele type of stringed instrument four (4) strings are usually provided, as in the instant example, and four (4) string tuning keys GI, G2, G3, and G4 are journaled in and extend transversely through head H and the cover plate C to which are attached the ends of the strings I, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

Such strings may be of any suitable material, although in the present example they may be considered to be of a suitable plastic such as nylon. The strings I, '2, 3 and 4 are stretched from the tuning keys in somewhat parallel relation inwardly across finger board F, sounding board S and the sound opening E, therein, to the bridge D to which they are attached and secured in spaced relation, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 1. The strings I, 2, 3 and l are stretched between the tuning keys and bridge D under tension, which may be varied by means of the rotatable keys to thereby tune the strings.

In accordance with my invention, I form the body 13, the neck N and the head H as a unitary, one-piece molded component :torm'ed of polystyrene plastic. This one-piece component may be injection molded with suitable injection molding equipment. The body B comprises a bottom wall l slightly belled outwardly (see Fig. 2), side walls H and outer end wall [2 and inner end wall It. The opposite side walls at opposite intermediate portions Ha are curved inwardly to provide a reduced width waist for the body, the bottom wall having a shape in plan to conform to the contour of the side and end walls.

The neck N comprises the bottom wall [5 and opposite side walls l6 (see, Figs. 6 and 7) so shaped and integrally joined with the bottom wall l5 as to form this component of general U-shaped in cross section through the major portion of its length, with the outer or upper side thereof opening. At its inner end portion where the neck N extends from and as an integral structure and part of body B, the bottom wall I5 is curved laterally outwardly from its general plane to terminate in a webbed portion I5a which joins into the adjacent inner end wall It of the body B with the opposite side walls It being extended in width accordingly to join with and form the full depth inner end structure ofthe neck at and integrally joined with the body B at the inner end wall I4 thereof. Such formation and construction of the inner end portion of neck N is shown clearly in Fig. 7. Thus the inner wall I4 of the body extends unbroken across and closing the increased depth inner end of neck N which is integral with such wall.

The head H of this one-piece, molded component is integral with neck N and extends outwardly in continuation thereof but is disposed angularly relative to the general plane of neck N in a direction inwardly away fromthe outer side of the instrument. Head H includes a bottom wall I! in continuation of bottomwall l5 of neck N, and opposite side walls IS in continuation of the opposite side walls l6 of the neck. Head H is open at the outer side of the instrument but the side walls I8 at the outer'end thereof are joined by an end wall lBa extending therebetween and transversely thereacross (see Fig. 2)

In the example instrument herein illustrated, this one-piece component of molded polystyrene plastic may have the body portion B thereof of a maximum overall length along its longitudinal center of approximately nine inches (9") and a maximum transverse width at the portion thereof between the sound opening E and the outer end wall l2, of approximately six inches (6"), while the overall thickness of the body may be approximately two inches (2"). I have found that with this polystyrene plastic in a body or hell having the general dimensions as above, the thickness of the bottom-wall l0 may be approximately eight hundredths of an inch (.08), and that this same'wall thickness may be utilized for the side walls It and opposite end walls 12 and I4. Similarly in the present example the walls [5a and I6 of the neck N and the walls I1, 18 and [8a of the body H, may have a thickness ofapproximately eight hundredths of an inch (.08).

The sounding board S is a separate component formed of polystyrene and has a'plan form to conform to the plane form of the body B. In the particular example instrument hereof having the overall dimensions as abovejthe sounding board S may have a thickness of approximately eight hundredths of an inch (.08")

The sounding board S has at the under side thereof a depending flange 20 there'around of a shape to form a relatively snug slipflt within-and around the internal contour of the side and end walls of body B, with this flange inset from the outer edge of the sounding board to provide a shoulder 2| which seats upon the continuous upper, outer edges of the side and end walls I I, I2 and i l of the body. This is clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3. The sounding board 'S is suitably cemented in assembled position on and over the outer side of body B to thus form the complete hollow, resonant body or bell of the instrument.

The sound opening E in the sounding board S is formed by an amplifier structure which comprises an annular flange or skirt 22 "extending from the inner side of board S surrounding and defining the sound opening E. Referring to Fig. 2 it will benoted that this flange 22 isof funnellike design and construction, so that, the bore or passage therethrough is of conical shape-decreasing in internal "diameter outwardly from the inner end-of the flange to and defining the sound opening E. The foregoing construction and arrangement of sound'opening E in the sounding board S with the amplifying flange 22 of my invention is disclosed but not claimed herein, as such construction and arrangement is claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 264,715, filed January 3, 1952, as a division of this applioation.

I have devised means for improving the tonal qualities of an all-plastic musical instrument of the stringed type, which means will also function to resist the tendency of the plastic sounding board of such an instrument to bend, under the pressures to which such a board is subjected, In the example hereof, such means takes the form of a sound bar 60. constructed of wood or other material having similar characteristics, secured in position on the sounding board at and disposed transversely across the under side thereof intermediate the sound opening E and the location of bridge D on the sounding board.

Referring to Figs. 1, =2 and 5 of the drawings, spaced parallel ribs 6| are molded integral with the sounding board S and projecting from the under side of the board in position extended tarnsversely thereacros's 'to and joined at their opposite ends with the flange 20 of the sounding board. In the particular ukulele form of my invention here illustrated, these ribs 61 may each have a width of approximately one-sixteenth of an inch (aw and be spaced apart a distance equal to approximately one-sixteenth of an inch He).

The sound bar 66 is formed, in this instance, of a strip of wood having a width of approximately one-sixteenth of an inch (1%") and a length of five and seven-eighths of an inch (5%) which is approximately equal to the'length of the space between the ribs GI. Sound bar 60 is fitted into and occupies the space provided between the ribs GI and the flanges 2| at th'e opposite ends of such space, and is secured firmly-in position therein by gluing or in any other suitable manner. Sound bar 69 is formed to have, throughout the major portion of its length, a thickness or depth of approximately one-fourth of an inch so that the bar projects a distance'outwardly beyond the inner edges of ribs '61 (see Fig. 2). Adjacent its opposite ends bar 60 may, as in this example, be'gradually decreased in depthso that the opposite end portions thereof have their inner edges sloped or inclined inwardly and out 7 wardly to the adjacent flanges 21, respectively, of the sounding board S (see Fig.

The transverse sound bar 60 of wood or simi lar material has an inherent or natural spring resistance or resilience, and being securely fixed or secured to and in the receiving and seating structure therefor provided by ribs 6|, will function to resist the tendency of the plastic sounding board S to bend or deform under the pressures to which the board is subjected. And due to the natural characteristics of the wood, of which bar 50 is formed, together with its location and manner of mounting at the under side of the sounding board S in relation to sound opening E and to body B, the tone of such an all-plastic stringed musical instrument is materially improved in quality.

The ribs 23 at the under side of sounding board S, provide efiective structure for resisting and overcoming the tendency of the sounding board to twist or distort under the torsional or pressure forces which are applied thereto by tension of the strings i, 2, 3 and 4, as well as by the torsional forces developed by the strumming transversely of the strings by the player. By positioning these ribs 23 longitudinally of the body and generally parallel with the strings, interference with the resonance, volume and tone qualities of the body or hell B is avoided.

The finger board F is molded of polystyrene to form the elongated plate or strip 30 having the depending flanges 31 along opposite longitudinal sides thereof but spaced a distance inwardly from the outer longitudinal edges of strip 30, so as to provide the opposite shoulders 31a. The finger board so formed is mounted on and over neck N with the flanges 3| extending into the neck between and forming a snug slip fit with the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls I6 of the neck and with shoulders 3|a seating upon the upper or outer edges of neck side walls I5 (see Figs. 6 and 7). The finger board plate or base 39 is cemented and secured in assembled position on and completely over and closing the outer side of neck N, with the inner end 30a of the plate projected a distance beyond the adjacent ends of flanges 39 to extend over onto the upper side of sound board S for cementing thereto, as will be clear by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The finger board F includes the series of transversely disposed, parallel frets 35 thereon and thereacross, the frets being spaced progressively increasing distances apart outwardly along the finger board in the established manner for fretted finger boards of such types of musical instruments. By my invention, however, I have provided these frets as formed of what may be termed a metallic plastic molded on and bonded to the plate or base member 30 of the finger board to form in effect, fixed permanent components of the finger board. Referring now to Fig. 7, each of these frets is molded on and across the outer side of base member 30 and is bonded thereto by the bonds or sprues 35a extending in and through suitable spaced holes 35b transversely across member 30 in line with and defining the position of the fret. It is to be noted that each fret 35 terminates at its opposite ends spaced inwardly (in the specific example hereof about lid") from the adjacent side edges, respectively, of the finger board, and that the opposite ends of each fret are rounded. This permits of a player sliding his fingers from one fret to another smoothly and without encountering rough or abruptly edged structure.

In the present example, each of the frets 35 is formed of clear, natural color polystyrene with which has been admixed a metallic powder or pigment such for example as aluminum in the proportion of approximately twenty to twentyfive percent (20 to 25%) of the mixture. There is thus produced a metallic plastic having a silvery color and metallic characteristics when molded onto the base 30 as the series of spaced frets 35. A plastic fret is thereby formed which has, however, the desired metallic characteristics for efiicient functioning of a string or strings when contacted therewith by the fingers of a player, while at the same time presenting the necessary contrasting color to the color of the base 30 of the finger board F. The position markers 36 which are provided at spaced intervals between frets 35 for the finger board F are, in this instance, similarly formed of such metallic molded as inlays in suitable openings in base member 30, with their outer surfaces flush with the outer surface of the base.

The formation, construction, materials coloring and other features of the finger board and the frets as herein disclosed are not claimed in this present application but are included and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 179,111, filed July 3, 1950, as a continuation-inpart of this present application Serial No. 149,741.

Following a further teaching of my invention, the outermost metallic plastic fret 35' of finger board F, is located at or immediately adjacent the outer end of the base member 30 of the fingerboard and a separate string divider in the form of a plastic strip 31 is attached in position against and across the outer end of fingerboard base 38 and the adjacent end of the cover plate C on the head H, and occupying a space between the adjacent ends of the finger board and the cover plate. This plastic material string divider extends upwardly a distance above the outer surface of fingerboard F and a plane passing through the outer surface of the frets 35 and 35. String divider 31 is provided with properly spaced transverse slots 31a across the outer or upper edge thereof and extending thereinto to a depth to receive and retain the strings in proper spaced relation elevated above and out of contact with the inner ends of the slots as the strings extend across and in contact with the outer end or first fret 35 to the tuning keys. Thus, the string divider 31 functions solely as a divider, and the first fret 35 is provided to function solely as a fret so that the metal characteristics of the metallic plastic of which it is formed may be utilized in obtaining the proper tone or note from any one of the strings I, 2, 3 and 4 which may be pressed by the fingers of a player. The arrangement and combination of first fret 35 and string divider 31 of my invention is not claimed herein but is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 265,074, filed January 5, 1952, as a division of this present application.

The bridge member D in the example instrument, is formed by a hollow, generally rectangular structure of polystyrene plastic. Bridge member D is open at its inner or under side and provides in this instance, a series of four (4) box structures 45 which depend from the upper wall of the bridge D, being spaced equal dis tances apart within and longitudinally of the bridge (see Fig. 3). These box structures H are each open at their outer side to provide the string end receiving openings 45a spaced along the outer longitudinal wall l6 of the bridge, as will be clear by referenceto Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The upper wall 4.! of the bridge is provided with string slots 41a disposed transversely thereof. and opening into the box structure 45 and through the outer edge of wall 4'! and longitudinal Wall 46. Slots 41a terminate at their inner. ends spacedv outwardly a distance from the. inner longitud-in al wall of the bridge D.

The bridge D is mounted on the outer side of sounding board S by a structure which includes at transverse rib 40 and a series of short spaced ribs or lugs 4iparallel with, but spaced outwardlyfrom rib 40. Ribs 40 and 4| are molded as integral components of sounding board S to project outwardly therefrom and are so dimensioned and positioned as to permit of bridge Dv being fitted down thereover into mounted position on the. sounding board with the ribs holding the bridge against lateral or longitudinal displacement. The bridge I) is secured and attached in dual mounted position on sounding board 8 over ribs 40 and ll by cementing, in the example instrument.

The ribs 4| are so dimensioned that the spaces Ma therebetween will align with and open into the openings 45a through Wall 46 into the bridge structures 35. Thus, the ends of the strings 2, 3 and 4' which may be knotted or otherwise prepared, are passed through the sets of aligned openings tid-45a, respectively, with the strings received in and extending outwardly through the slots 41a. Thus, the knotted or prepared ends of the strings are engaged under the upper wall of the bridge and the strings held firmly anchored for tensioning by the tuning keys to which they are attached. Preferably, contact strip 58 of plastic material is cemented in a groove 48a (see Fig. 5 in the upperwall of bridge D. Strip 53 projects outwardly a distance from the outer ""ace of bridge upper wall so as to provide a relatively thin but rounded surface, for receiving the strings in positions maintained spaced outwardly from the bridge, The bridge D, so constructed and mounted, provides for very easy mounting and removal of a string or strings from the instrument.

The bridge D on the sounding board S is not specif cally claimed herein as such bridge and its mounting are disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 264,133, filed December. 29, 1951, as a division of this application.

The cover plate C is cemented on the'outer side of the head H. Cover plate is provided with a flange U therearound spaced inwardly from the outer edge thereof and extending inwardly from the inner side of the plate, so that a shoulder 5| is formed around the plate for seating on the outer edges of the side walls l8 and end wall 13a of the head, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 2 in connection with Fig. 5. The tuning keys GI, G2, G3 and G4 may be of any desired construction for mounting and journal ing in and extending through the assembled head ii and cover plate 0. In this particular example, bushings 53 are formed or molded as integral components of and projecting from the inner side of cover plate C for journaling therein the key spindles 54, respectively. With the head H and cover plate C in assembled relation, the bushings 53 are disposed between the head and cover plate and rotatably receive the key spindles 54, with these spindles projecting through suitable bores in head H to receive at the under side 10 of the head the key handles 55 by which the spindles are rotated.

While I have shown a stringed musical instrument of the ukulele type by way of example, in which the bridge D has attached thereto the end portions of the strings, it is to be understood that my invention is not so limited, as the features thereof may and are intended to, be expressed in various other types of stringed musical instruments in which the strings, instead of being directly attached or anchored to the sounding board mounted bridge, are extended across the sounding board over a bridge or equivalent structure to anchor structure or points on or carried by the body of the, instrument removed from the sounding board.

The various features of the invention as hereinbefore described and as embodied in the stringed musical instrument of the, ukulele type of the illustrated example are adapted to embodiment in stringed musical instruments of this general class, of various sizes and shapes and with varying numbers of strings intended either for finger strumming or. for picking or vibrating with a pick, bow or other instrumentality. And for the sake of brevity, the, term ukulele, or the expression stringed musical instrument of the ukulele type has been used in the appended claims, and wherever such term or expression appears it is used as a generic, broad expression and is to be interpreted to include any and all musical instruments of the general class, unless in any such claim where used such term or expression is given by other context a clearly intended more restricted or limited meaning.

Several features of the invention, notably the sound opening amplifier structure; the antitorsion ribs on the under side of the sounding board; and thearrangement of separate, string divider and first or outer fret on the finger board, while they may have their greatest utility and efiiciency with the plastic instrument of the invention, are all capable of adaptation to and embodiment in wood or other material instruments.

It will also be evident that various other forms, designs, embodiments, substitutions, eliminations, additions and combinations may be resorted to without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the appended claims, and hence I do not wish to limit myself in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures of the selected example instrument hereof What I claim is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument including, in combination; a hollow, closed-wall resonant bell having the top side thereof open; a hollow neck on said bell; a head on said neck; said ball, said neck and said head beingcomprised of a one-piece, integral molded plastic component and said bell being shaped to substantially close the adjacent end of said neck; a sounding board comprised of a moldedplastic component, said plastic sounding board having a sound opening therein and being directly cemented to said closed-wall resonant plastic bell at and around the open side thereof in position thereon over and closing said open side to form with said bell a resonant all-plastic musical instrument body; a molded plastic finger board on and cemented directly to said neck; a head cover member on and cemented directly to said head on said neck; and keys mounted on said head and head cover member.

2. In a stringed musical instrument including,

in combination; a hollow, closed-wall resonant bell having the top side only thereof open; a hollow neck on said bell; a head on said neck; said bell, said neck and said head being comprised of a one-piece, integral molded plastic component; a sounding board formed of a molded plastic member and having a sound opening therein; a molded plastic bridge member forming a rigid, fixed portion of said sounding board in position on the outer side thereof and being adapted for the attachment thereto under tension of the ends of the playing strings of the instrument; said molded plastic sounding board being cemented on and directly to said molded plastic bell as a permanent fixed component thereof in position over and closing the open top side of said bell to form therewith a resonant hollow musical instrument body; a molded plastic finger board on and cemented directly to said neck; a head member on and cemented directly to said head on said neck; and keys mounted on said head and head member.

3. In a stringed musical instrument including, in combination; a hollow, closed-wall resonant bell formed of bottom, end and side walls open only at the top side thereof; a hollow neck on said bell; a head on said neck; said bell, said neck and said head being comprised of a one-piece, integral molded thermoplastic component having a sound opening therein; a molded thermoplastic bridge structure forming a fixed, rigid portion of said sounding board at the outer side thereof adapted for the attachment thereto under tension of the ends of the playing strings of the instrument; said thermoplastic sounding board being cemented directly to said thermoplastic bell in position over and closing said open top side of said bell to form therewith a substantially one-piece resonant hollow musical instrument body; a thermoplastic finger board positioned on and cemented directly to said neck; a head cover member on and cemented directly to said head on said neck; and keys mounted on said head and said head cover member.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a stringed musical instrument comprising, in combination, a resonant bell consisting of side walls, end walls and a bottom wall formed to provide an integral wall structure open at the top side thereof; a hollow neck rigidly joined with and extending outwardly from one end wall of said bell and having an open inner end closed solely by said end wall of the bell; a head at the outer end of said hollow neck; said bell, said neck. and said head being formed by a one-piece, integral component of a molded thermoplastic; a sounding board formed of a molded thermoplastic having a sound opening therein and being formed with inwardly projecting flanges on the inner side thereof adjacent but spaced inwardly from the outer side and end edges of said sounding board, said flanges being located in positions to extend into and form a slip fit with said bell wall structure at the open side thereof; said sounding board being mounted in position over and closing the open side of said bell with said flanges received therein and being cemented directly to the portions of said bell wall structure at the open top side thereof to form with said bell a hollow resonant body; a molded thermoplastic bridge structure rigid with said sounding board in position at the outer side thereof; a molded thermoplastic finger board cemented to said neck; a head cover member on and cemented directly to said head on said neck; string tuning keys mounted on said head and said head cover member; and playing strings connected at their opposite ends to and being extended under tension between said tuning keys on said head and said bridge structure on said sounding board.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a stringed musical instrument comprising, in combination; a resonant bell consisting of side walls, end walls and a bottom wall formed to provide an integral wall structure open at the top side thereof; a hollow neck integral with and closed by one end wall of said bell, said hollow neck being open along the top side thereof and said bell and said neck being formed of a. molded thermoplastic; a sounding board formed of a molded thermoplastic member having a sound opening therein and being formed with inwardly projecting flanges on the inner side thereof at locations to extend within said bell wall structure through the open side thereof; said sounding board being positioned on said bell over the open top side thereof and being cemented directly to said bell walls; a molded thermoplastic finger board having inwardly projecting flanges on the inner side thereof in locations to extend through the open top side of said neck, said finger board being positioned on said hollow neck over the open top side thereof and being cemented directly to said neck; a head integral with said neck; a head cover member on and cemented directly to said head on said neck; a bridge on and rigid with said sounding board for the attachment thereto under tension of the ends of playing strings of the instrument; and keys mounted on said head and said head cover member.

MARIO MACCAFERRI.

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